How the last five days of Rex Tillerson's tenure played out

Philip Bump, The Washington Post

March 13, 2018

Photo: Jonathan Ernst, AP

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U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrives at Djibouti–Ambouli International Airport in Djibouti, Friday March 9, 2018. Tillerson says a "dramatic" and surprising change of posture by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un led U.S. President Donald Trump to agree to a meeting. (Jonathan Ernst/pool via AP) less

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrives at Djibouti–Ambouli International Airport in Djibouti, Friday March 9, 2018. Tillerson says a "dramatic" and surprising change of posture by North Korean leader ... more

Photo: Jonathan Ernst, AP

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U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson lays a wreath during a ceremony at Memorial Park in honor of the victims of the deadly 1998 U.S. Embassy bombing, in Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, March 11, 2018. In 1998 the US embassies were bombed in near simultaneous attacks in two East African cities, in which over 200 people were killed. less

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson lays a wreath during a ceremony at Memorial Park in honor of the victims of the deadly 1998 U.S. Embassy bombing, in Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, March 11, 2018. In 1998 the US ... more

Photo: Ben Curtis, AP

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U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, center, walks down the steps of a U.S. Air Force plane as he arrives in Nairobi, Kenya Friday, March 9, 2018.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, center, walks down the steps of a U.S. Air Force plane as he arrives in Nairobi, Kenya Friday, March 9, 2018.

Photo: Ben Curtis, AP

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Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta, right, greets U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at the State House in Nairobi, Kenya, Friday, March 9, 2018. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool via AP)

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta, right, greets U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at the State House in Nairobi, Kenya, Friday, March 9, 2018. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool via AP)

Photo: JONATHAN ERNST, AP

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US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson boards his plane as he leaves Abuja on March 12, 2018, at the end of an African tour. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on March 12 slammed last month's mass abduction of schoolgirls in northern Nigeria and promised Washington's "full support" in the country's fight against Boko Haram jihadists. He arrived from Chad, where he also promised support for a state fighting jihadism. His tour, which began last on MArch 7, has also included Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson boards his plane as he leaves Abuja on March 12, 2018, at the end of an African tour. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on March 12 slammed last month's mass abduction of

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis participate in a meeting at Government House in Sydney for the 2017 Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) on June 5, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. The Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) are the principal forum for bilateral consultations with the United States. The annual meeting brings together the Australian Ministers for Foreign Affairs and for Defence with the US Secretaries of State and Defense, along with senior officials from both portfolios. It is the first AUSMIN meeting with the new Trump administration and discussions will include North Korea, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and defeating Islamic State (IS).

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis participate in a meeting at Government House in Sydney for the 2017 Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) on June

US President Donald J. Trump (R) shakes hands with Rex Tillerson (L) after Tillerson was sworn-in as Secretary of State, as Tillerson's wife Renda St. Clair (C) looks on; in the Oval Office of the White House on February 1, 2017 in Washington, DC. Tillerson was confirmed by the Senate, 01 February, in a 56-to-43 vote to become the nation's 69th Secretary of State. (Photo by Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)

US President Donald J. Trump (R) shakes hands with Rex Tillerson (L) after Tillerson was sworn-in as Secretary of State, as Tillerson's wife Renda St. Clair (C) looks on; in the Oval Office of the White House

Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Secretary Olukunle Bamgbose (C) walks with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as he arrives in Abuja, Nigeria on March 12, 2018.

Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Secretary Olukunle Bamgbose (C) walks with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as he arrives in Abuja, Nigeria on March 12, 2018.

Photo: JONATHAN ERNST/AFP/Getty Images

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U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir shake hands during a press event at the State Department on January 12, 2018 in Washington, DC.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir shake hands during a press event at the State Department on January 12, 2018 in Washington, DC.

Photo: Zach Gibson/Getty Images

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US President Donald Trump speaks alongside Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (L) during a Cabinet Meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, November 20, 2017.

US President Donald Trump speaks alongside Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (L) during a Cabinet Meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, November 20, 2017.

Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

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U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson delivers a statement at the State Department October 4, 2017 in Washington, DC. Tillerson denied recent news reports indicating an imminent resignation from his position.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson delivers a statement at the State Department October 4, 2017 in Washington, DC. Tillerson denied recent news reports indicating an imminent resignation from his position.

Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

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U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson walks to a podium before making a statement at the State Department October 4, 2017 in Washington, DC. Tillerson denied recent news reports indicating an imminent resignation from his position.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (center) testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Foreign Operations, Washington DC, June 13, 2017.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (center) testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Foreign Operations, Washington DC, June 13, 2017.

Photo: Mark Reinstein/Getty Images

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U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (R) escorts Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (L) prior to a scheduled meeting at the State Department June 27, 2017 in Washington, DC. Tillerson and Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani were expected to discuss a range of bilateral issues during their meeting.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrives for a photo opportunity with Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi at the State Department September 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. Tillerson and Jiechi are meeting amid heightened tensions surrounding North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrives for a photo opportunity with Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi at the State Department September 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. Tillerson and Jiechi are meeting amid

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson rubs his eyes during a United Nations Security Council meeting concerning North Korea's nuclear ambitions, December 15, 2017 in New York City. On Thursday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the Security Council resolutions on North Korea's nuclear programs must be fully implemented.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson bows his head after laying a wreath at the 1998 U.S. embassy bombing memorial site in Nairobi on March 11, 2018.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson bows his head after laying a wreath at the 1998 U.S. embassy bombing memorial site in Nairobi on March 11, 2018.

Photo: JONATHAN ERNST/AFP/Getty Images

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A photo dated March 12, 2018 shows Rex Tillerson (L) and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari during Tillerson's visit to Abuja, Nigeria. President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced CIA Director Mike Pompeo as the countrys new Secretary of State, replacing Rex Tillerson (L) after Tillerson's visit to Nigeria on March 12, 2018.

ExxonMobil Chairman Rex Tillerson speaks at a press conference after the ExxonMobil annual shareholders meeting at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center May 28, 2008 in Dallas, Texas. A total of 19 resolutions were voted on today by shareholders. (Photo by Brian Harkin/Getty Images)

ExxonMobil Chairman Rex Tillerson speaks at a press conference after the ExxonMobil annual shareholders meeting at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center May 28, 2008 in Dallas, Texas. A total of 19 resolutions

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) and ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson (L) attend at the ceremony of the signing of an agreement between state-controlled Russian oil company Rosneft and ExxonMobil in the Black Sea port of Tuapse on June 15, 2012.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) and ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson (L) attend at the ceremony of the signing of an agreement between state-controlled Russian oil company Rosneft and ExxonMobil

When the biggest diplomatic move of President Donald Trump's administration to date was announced, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was in Ethiopia.

Tillerson had just arrived on the African continent Thursday for a multiday trip when a delegation from South Korea arrived at the White House to discuss recent negotiations with North Korea. They were there to meet with top aides to the president, but Trump himself intervened, inviting them into the Oval Office. There, he was told that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was open to discussions with the United States, and Trump, without hesitation, agreed.

The South Korean delegation announced the anticipated meeting between the United States and North Korea from the White House driveway. Only hours before, Tillerson had been asked about the prospect of discussions with the North Koreans.

"We're a long ways from negotiations," Tillerson told the media. The distance, it turns out, was much shorter than Tillerson knew.

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Media: Associated Press

Friday, March 9

At some point on Friday, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly contacted Tillerson, according to the Associated Press, to inform him that there might soon be a presidential tweet concerning him. That call was likely in the middle of the night for Tillerson, according to Bloomberg News. Tillerson told Bloomberg and other members of the press that he'd had a call at 2:30 a.m. about which he couldn't say anything further.

Tillerson continued on to Djibouti. Trump's schedule for the day was largely empty.

Saturday, March 10

Tillerson's schedule on Saturday was cleared by the State Department, attributed to Tillerson not feeling well.

Trump traveled to Pittsburgh for a rally on behalf of a congressional candidate in the state. During his speech, he celebrated the apparent breakthrough with North Korea.

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"When the South Korean representatives who just left North Korea came outside, big throng of press, they announced that North Korea, Kim Jong Un, would like to meet with President Trump," the president said. "This doesn't happen, you know. They say well, Obama could have done that. Trust me, he wouldn't have done it. And by the way, neither would Bush, and neither would Clinton. And they had their shot, and all they did was nothing."

Sunday, March 11

Tillerson resumed his public schedule in Kenya. Trump mostly tweeted.

CIA Director Mike Pompeo appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation," where he was asked about the situation with North Korea and upcoming negotiations.

CBS' MARGARET BRENNAN: Tillerson said this will be done through him. Is that still the plan?

POMPEO: This is a level of discussion the president is going to drive this effort this negotiation, but it will take a team to build out the picture so that we put the president in the best position so that he can achieve that outcome.

BRENNAN: Because it's unclear, though, if it's the State Department or your agency that will take the lead. It was your counterpart from South Korea who was at the White House this week.

POMPEO: I don't think there's any doubt about who's going to take the lead on this. The president of the United States is going to take the lead.

Monday, March 12

British Prime Minister Theresa May, speaking from Parliament, made a remarkable announcement. The poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in the U.K. earlier this month was undertaken with a nerve agent produced by the Russian government. The implication was either that Russia had lost control of that toxin, she said, or that the Russian government had a hand in the attack.

Tillerson had begun his flight back to the United States, cutting his trip short, he told reporters, because he wasn't feeling well. In a break from past practice, he spoke to the press on the record, including about the incident in the U.K.

The attack on the spy, Sergei Skripal, which left him and his daughter in critical condition, "clearly came from Russia," Tillerson said, given how difficult the toxin was to obtain. The attack was a "really egregious act" that would "certainly trigger a response."

"What we've seen is a pivot on their part to be more aggressive," he said. "And this is very, very concerning to me and others that there seems to be a certain unleashing of activity that we don't fully understand what the objective behind that is."

Asked about May's comments during the daily White House news briefing, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders declined to point the finger at Russia.

"I think [the British are] still working through even some of the details of that," she said.

Tuesday, March 13

Tillerson arrives back in the United States at 4 a.m. A few hours later, The Post breaks the story about Tillerson being replaced with Pompeo.

Trump confirms the move in a tweet:

"Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State. He will do a fantastic job! Thank you to Rex Tillerson for his service! Gina Haspel will become the new Director of the CIA, and the first woman so chosen. Congratulations to all!"

State Department Undersecretary Steve Goldstein told CNN that the tweet was the first point at which Tillerson knew he'd been fired, though the New York Times reports that Tillerson found out "before dawn." The department had already released a statement suggesting that Tillerson's departure was not mutually agreed upon.

"The Secretary had every intention of staying, because of critical progress made in national security," that statement read. "He will miss his colleagues at the Department of State and the foreign ministers that he's worked with throughout the world."

The secretary, the statement added, "did not speak to the president and is unaware of the reason" for the firing.

Trump was asked about his decision during a brief news conference. "Mr. President," one reporter asked, "what did you say to Rex Tillerson?"

"Rex and I have been talking about this for a long time," Trump said, not indicating that any of those conversations had occurred recently. "We got along, actually, quite well, but we disagreed on things. . . . We were not really thinking the same. With Mike, Mike Pompeo, we have a very similar thought process. I think it's going to go very well."

Trump said he made the decision to meet with North Korea "by myself," noting that Tillerson "wasn't in this country."

Trump was also asked about May's remarks in the U.K. He said he'd be speaking with the prime minister later in the day.

"As soon as we the facts straight," Trump said, "and we're going to be speaking with the British today; we're going to be speaking with Theresa May today. And as soon as we get the facts straight, if we agree with them, we will condemn Russia - or whoever it may be."

He then praised the decision by the Republican majority on the House Intelligence Committee to exonerate him on questions of collusion during the 2016 presidential campaign.